Yep, the holidays are upon us, and there's no better place to go for shopping, noshing and winter fun than this seasonal offering in Bryant Park. Sure, there are plenty of holiday markets around the city, but the one at Bryant Park is unofficially recognized as the gold standard.
So what will you find? A 17.000-square-foot ice skating rink, for one...with free admission! (Skate rental fees will cost you, though, starting at $18 .)
The kiddos can hop a ride on Le Carrousel, take their turn at the available ping pong tables or sign up for a juggling class! And adults can stock up on gifts at the over 170 holiday shops, open Mondays through Fridays, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. through 8 p.m. through January 2nd. Artisans from around the world gather to hawk their crafts, baubles, clothes, artwork and more.
A really cool feature brought back this year is Small Business Spotlight, in which the organizers give four NYC-based minority-owned small business, with annual revenues of $1 million or less an opportunity to showcase their products in a free booth.
Hungry? Thirsty? Get cozy at The Lodge, a covered outdoor area where visitors can sip cocktails and chow down on yummy food--everything from mac 'n cheese to s'mores to German bratwurst--while watching skaters and ogling the tree.
We've really just scratched the surface here, so head to their website to check out all the shops and activities available to you this season.
Image via Andrew F Kazmierski/iStock
